This site map is taken from "Calakmul: New Data From an Ancient Maya Capital
in Campeche, Mexico," by William J. Folan. It appeared in Latin
American Antiquity
(vol. 6,
no. 4) in 1995. Structures I-IX are labeled, and brief descriptions of some of the
structures, paraphrased or excerpted from Ramon Carrasco's on-line paper "Calakmul:
The Archaeology of a Superpower," appear below.

Structure I:

Structure I has proportions similar to Structure II.

Structure II:

"Structure II, which occupies the extreme south of the Grand Plaza, is a
foundation of monumental proportions with a surface area of more than 100 meters (331 ft)
on each side. The presence of pre-Classic ceramics in unsullied deposits at an open
tunnel in this building shows that its fill corresponds to that of a substructure of the
late pre-Classic era. Its sequence of construction preserves at least three
substructures and four architectural phases: the first two, assoicated with ceramics
in sealed contents; the second phase corresponds to the early Classic (250-600 A.D.)
era."

Structure III:

Carrasco describes Structure III as a "'palace' in the classic Peten style."
Structure III is unique among the main buildings at Calakmul in that it, unlike the
others, never underwent any significant modifications during the entirety of occupation at
Calakmul. Carrasco believes that this is because it housed "one of the most
ancient lineages of Calakmul."

Structure IV:

This structure represents one of the most complete building architectural sequences at
Calakmul--the high pre-Classic through the terminal Classic. Guarding the entrance
of one of its substructures is a carving of a leader "who emerges from a crevice in
the monster of the earth." Carrasco believes that this carving may be a
depiction of the legendary Cu-Ix, "the principal protagonist in the alliances among
Calakmul, Naranjo, and Caracol in their struggle against the power of Tikal."

Structure XI:

Not visible in the map shown above, Structure XI is a ballcourt situated in public
space in Plaza I of the Great Acropolis. The structure represents architecture at
Calakmul in the second half of the late Classic era. Also of note, is the spacial
relationship between Structure XI and Structure XIII as Carrasco believes that this may be
a symbolic arrangement linked to the myth of the hero twins in the Popol Vuh and their
descent into Xibalba.